Spanish students protest over higher education cuts

A wave of protests over government's higher education cuts hit Madrid and Barcelona, on Thursday. In Madrid thousands of students took to the streets. Fights broke out during the rally as a rival faction of protesters confronted Student Union supporters attending the demonstration.

In Barcelona over 5,000 students protested against the so-called education reforms. Some protesters splattered the building of Barcelona Stock Exchange with paint and eggs. Protesters ended the march by forcing their way into the University Rectory and starting an occupation of the premises.

The Spanish government wants to cut the length of undergraduate degrees, currently lasting from four to six years, to a maximum of three years.